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Only professional 3D printing equipment can produce items that to most of us are good enough to be passed off as a genuine item, there will be a percentage of rogue model collectors who see 3D printing as a Money making machine and expect to print off a vast collection of rare coloured model car components and in a very few cases, these components are going to be hard to detect because of the way they are fixed or held in place on models.

At the moment the downside to 3D printing is the amount of time it takes to actually 'print' something, a staggeringly long painful excersise for something similar to the luggage component used on the Fiat saloon car, so printing a lot of them is just not viable.

Domestic printers will be just that, 'Domestic', made within a budget designed for the average household or hobbyist to buy and the items they can print are noticeably different from the genuine article 'In Hand'.

What will cause problems are photographs of models with printed components and unless all pictures from now on are in High Defenition, we won't always be able to spot 3D printed components and this is what the fakers will rely on when selling us those hard to find models, by continuing to use dark out of focus images on Ebay etc.

GHOSTHUNTER.

Hi all,

I understand that you all are afraid about what could possibly done with this technology.
I can only say that I wont try to make any frauds by making parts for Matchbox models.
For me this is fun - not more.

Here another example.
Hope you like it Stephan

Hi Guys,
I have read and reread this topic several times and remain confused regarding the negativity expressed.
This is a forum about restoring and customising models where like minded folk share tips and display their work, so why should 3D printing be seen as such a threat? Surely it is another process to be explored and embraced.
The parts that Malibu has shown are not available elsewhere and the custom roof load on the Mercury is a great new idea scaled down from a SuperKing model.
If a current parts supplier had produced them by more traditional methods would the opinions have been the same?
3D printing is new, it is progress just like Resin and white metal castings, replacement decals and parts, that have all been available for a long time were new once.
Many threads are about how to replicate original paint finishes, axle ends, restoring glazing etc. Plenty of other crafts and hobbies use different techniques and materials some of which could be useful to this site.

There are fakers out there, plus many talented restorers, customisers and scratch builders. It's how the end product is represented that is the difference.
Cheers,
John.

GHOSTHUNTER wrote:and unless all pictures from now on are in High Defenition,
GHOSTHUNTER.

Like that will ever happen.

Jingley wrote: Hi Guys,
I have read and reread this topic several times and remain confused regarding the negativity expressed.

There are many collectors out there, which for various reasons, can't stand anything that isn't created by Lesney. For them, everything else is considered rubbish that is polluting and ruining the hobby.

Jingley wrote:This is a forum about restoring and customising models where like minded folk share tips and display their work, so why should 3D printing be seen as such a threat? Surely it is another process to be explored and embraced.

Two reasons for dissenting opinions posted here. First, most people just click on "view new posts" and hammer out a response without even looking at the forum to which they are adding the post. Second, re-read my first comment, some are so firmly in a "purist" mind set that they feel strongly enough to post their comments on this sub-forum.

Jingley wrote: If a current parts supplier had produced them by more traditional methods would the opinions have been the same?

I have no doubt they would not only feel the same but this would even increase their opposition because the parts in question would be readily available to a larger customer base.

Jingley wrote: 3D printing is new, it is progress just like Resin and white metal castings, replacement decals and parts, that have all been available for a long time were new once. Many threads are about how to replicate original paint finishes, axle ends, restoring glazing etc. Plenty of other crafts and hobbies use different techniques and materials some of which could be useful to this site.

All true, and when some widely available online articles have been brought into the spotlight (on the VBD and other die cast forums) they are sometimes deleted and always opposed by those who see this as feeding information to the flakers/fraudsters.

Jingley wrote:There are fakers out there, plus many talented restorers, customisers and scratch builders. It's how the end product is represented that is the difference.

Again, one can never discount the distain for anything not authentic that is viewed by some as "ruining the hobby." While I would love for this particular sub-forum to be free of such bickering and negative comments ... it will never happen.

Tinman wrote: While I would love for this particular sub-forum to be free of such bickering and negative comments ... it will never happen.

My eyes have been opened, I didn't realise. Whilst I am a firm believer in constructive critism, critical friends and freedom of speech.
To quote Thumper "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all"

John

Maybe because in most collectors eyes anything not made by Lesney is NOT Lesney.

I'm not criticizing anyone's collecting preference or style. As a person who has always been vocal and aggressive in outing fraudsters and identifying fake models, I do understand the challenges that face the hobby. Every model in my collection was a genuine Lesney original product. For my own collection, I was a purist and a completionist. I had my own particular collecting quirks and nuances.

As a hobbyist and model maker, I enjoy a different side of the hobby. The two different interests compliment each other as I gain a great deal of knowledge by knowing the ins and outs of both sides of the fence. This makes me better at spotting fakes and also gives me more insight into modeling my own creations.

The customs and/or restorations sub-forums should be a place where how-to techniques can be discussed, projects can be displayed and information shared. This is the forum where modelers can express and enjoy their particular niche of the hobby. It would be nice if modelers could do that without having others nit-pick at their style of collecting and hobby enjoyment. It's a separate sub-forum for that very reason and those who dislike customs and restorations don't have to deal with these models (and discussion) mixed in with serious variation topics and discussions in other threads.

The sub-forums for collecting a particular brand or series as well as the ebay and "hall of shame" threads are the place where fakers and fraudsters can be discussed (along with the issues of that dark side of the hobby). I don't think anyone wants to see the Dinky, Vintage MB or Superfast forums filled up with restored models and custom creations or discussions concerning issues with making these models. And, by the same token, the restorations and customs sub-forum should be a "safe place" for hobbyists.

tjlglass wrote:Maybe because in most collectors eyes anything not made by Lesney is NOT Lesney.

That's getting a bit Zen Buddhist isn't it, Tim?

Tinman wrote:This is the forum where modelers can express and enjoy their particular niche of the hobby. It would be nice if modelers could do that without having others nit-pick at their style of collecting and hobby enjoyment. It's a separate sub-forum for that very reason and those who dislike customs and restorations don't have to deal with these models (and discussion) mixed in with serious variation topics and discussions in other threads.

I understand what you are saying Joe, and I agree with you 100%.
My take on the recent criticism of 3D-printing is that it is all to do with concerns about what the fakers will do with this technology once it is mature, rather than criticism of the creative uses skilled model-makers like yourself can put it to.